real estate

Contract for deed

     Contract for deed (aka land contract or installment contract) occurs when a buyer agrees to make a down payment and a monthly loan payment. At the same time the seller retains legal title to the property during the contract term and the buyer is granted the equitable title. At the end of the contract when the buyer pays off the loan, the seller delivers a clear title. Contract for deed is great for people/businesses that want to make a high return on money.

     Also, this is an ideal method to sell a property that requires a lot of repairs or is difficult to sell. The banks typically do not finance purchases that need a lot of rehab. Unlike a traditional sale when you receive proceeds from the closing.  In a contract for deed, the transaction seller becomes a lender and finances the buyer. The seller also makes 3-8% return on the money (the interest rate is always negotiable). Buyers most likely are willing to pay more for contracts for deed purchases. The reason for this is that they save money on loan origination and other fees charged by the bank.

     There are many buyers whose credit isn’t good and they can’t get a loan from the bank. However, they may have great income and substantial down payment. Such people are ideal candidates to buy properties on contract for deed. After they rebuild their credit and can obtain a loan from a bank, they can pay off the contract for the deed sooner. There are several advantages to selling on contract for deed. First, you can get a high return on the loan that you will be giving to a buyer. Usually, we see 3%-8% which is much higher than what a bank would pay on a certificate of deposit. The second advantage is when you compare a contract for deed sale to a traditional sale using a bank loan. If your buyer stops making payments, you will keep the down payment and can evict the buyer from the property within 60 days. You can do that by canceling the contract if the buyer doesn’t bring the loan current. In a traditional sale, if the loan is obtained, lenders have to wait up to 12 months in order to complete the foreclosure process and get the property. Many states now offer some legal protection to defaulting buyers under contract for deed, thus Real Estate Liquidators recommends contacting a real estate attorney in your state regarding this matter.